Footnotes to Long Island History
Old Tunnel Bridge Brings Back
Memories
by
Thomas R. Bayles
By Thomas R. Bayles
The old
tunnel bridge shown in the picture was probably built when the railroad
was opened to Greenport in 1844 and has served its purpose during the
horse and buggy days. This is located on the River road that runs from
the expressway now under construction east of Yaphank across to the
Farm-to-Market road in Mastic. This is a very old road that was opened
in the early years of the settlement of Brookhaven town, and ran to the
center at South Haven where the grist mill, Presbyterian church, and
Carman's tavern and store were located. Boats came up the Carman's
river from the Great South Bay to Carman's store for supplies of all
kinds, and one of the popular items sold in his store was molasses,
which was used in making rum.
The River
road has been widened and improved with many houses located on it but
the old railroad bridge still stands, and is only wide enough for a car
to pass through, with little room to spare. Now that the road has a
connection with the expressway it will no doubt be torn down and a more
suitable bridge erected, and so progress marches on.